Case: City of Shoreline v. United States Department of Transportation

2:26-cv-01311 | U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington

Filed Date: April 16, 2026

Case Ongoing

Clearinghouse coding in progress

Case Summary

(This summary is temporary while we research the case.) The City of Shoreline, Washington filed this action against the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington on April 17, 2026. The complaint arose from the DOT's imposition of new anti-diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and anti-gender ideology conditions on Shoreline's $20 million grant under the Federal Highway Administration's (F…

(This summary is temporary while we research the case.)

The City of Shoreline, Washington filed this action against the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington on April 17, 2026. The complaint arose from the DOT's imposition of new anti-diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and anti-gender ideology conditions on Shoreline's $20 million grant under the Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA) Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) Program, which had been awarded in 2023 to fund the "West Side Transformation Project"—a multimodal transportation initiative connecting the west side of Interstate 5 to a new Sound Transit light rail station.

Following President Trump's January 2025 executive orders targeting DEI programs and transgender rights, the DOT issued revised 2025 FHWA General Terms and Conditions on April 23, 2025, and a "Duffy Letter" on April 24, 2025, imposing new grant conditions requiring recipients to certify that they do not operate DEI programs violating federal anti-discrimination laws and exposing them to False Claims Act (FCA) liability for non-compliance. Shoreline alleged it faced a "catch-22": rejecting the new conditions risked losing its $20 million grant and halting a project already underway, while accepting them exposed the city to FCA investigations and conflicted with its own local laws supporting DEI and LGBTQ+ individuals. Shoreline brought eight counts under the Spending Clause, separation of powers, the Fifth and Tenth Amendments, and the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), seeking declaratory relief, vacatur, a stay, and injunctive relief preventing the DOT from imposing these conditions on any funding recipient.

This case is ongoing.

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73202365/parties/city-of-shoreline-v-united-states-department-of-transportation/

Judge(s)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Ainsworth-Taylor, Julie K. (Washington)

Ching, Kunyu (Washington)

DiBianco, Gary (Washington)

King, Margaret J (Washington)

Attorney for Defendant

Bishop, Sarah Louise (Washington)

Judge(s)

Rothstein, Barbara Jacobs (Washington)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Ainsworth-Taylor, Julie K. (Washington)

Ching, Kunyu (Washington)

DiBianco, Gary (Washington)

King, Margaret J (Washington)

Powell, Amy (Washington)

Attorney for Defendant

Bishop, Sarah Louise (Washington)

Attorney Contact Information via CourtListener

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Documents in this case

2 2:26-cv-01311	Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief City of Shoreline v. United States Department of Transportation et al.	April 17, 2026	April 17, 2026 Complaint

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Resources

Resources related to this case
Title	Description		External URL Date / External URL
The Duffy Memo U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy			https://www.transportation.gov/...
EO 14173 - Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity President Donald Trump	Ordering all federal agencies and departments to terminate all DEIA (diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility) policies and programs, and directing the Attorney General and Secretary of Education …	Jan. 21, 2025	Jan. 21, 2025 https://www.federalregister.gov/...
EO 14168 - Defending Women From Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government President Donald Trump	Declaring that the United States government recognized two biologically-defined sexes, male and female and implementing this definition of gender in various legal spaces, including but not limited to…	Jan. 20, 2025	Jan. 20, 2025 https://www.federalregister.gov/...
EO 14151 - Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing President Donald Trump	Directing the Office of Management and Budget to coordinate the termination of all diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEI and DEIA) programs in the federal government.	Jan. 20, 2025	Jan. 20, 2025 https://www.federalregister.gov/...

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Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73202365/city-of-shoreline-v-united-states-department-of-transportation/

Last updated Aug. 7, 2026, 10:24 p.m.

Docket for: City of Shoreline v. United States Department of Transportation

ECF Number	Date	Description	Link
1	April 16, 2026	NOTICE of Related Case(s) 2:25-cv-01435; 2:25-cv-00814, by Plaintiff City of Shoreline. (King, Margaret) (Entered: 04/16/2026)	RECAP
2	April 17, 2026	COMPLAINT FOR DECLARATORY AND INJUNCTIVE RELIEF against All Defendants filed by City of Shoreline. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons, # 3 Summons, # 4 Summons, # 5 Summons)(King, Margaret) (Prepayment Waived) Modified on 4/17/2026 to add receipt # AWAWDC-9619672 (MIH). (Entered: 04/17/2026) 1 Civil Cover Sheet View on PACER 2 Summons View on PACER 3 Summons View on PACER 4 Summons View on PACER 5 Summons View on PACER	Clearinghouse
3	April 17, 2026	Notice of Filing Deficiency re 2 Complaint,. *Action Required* Improper Signature - Secondary Attorney(s).See attached letter for more information and instructions. (MIH)(cc attorney Julie Ainsworth-Taylor via Ad Hoc) (Entered: 04/17/2026)	RECAP
4	April 17, 2026	Summons(es) Electronically Issued as to all Defendants (MIH) (Entered: 04/17/2026)	RECAP
	April 17, 2026	Add and Terminate Judges
	April 17, 2026	Judge Thomas S. Zilly added. (MIH)
5	April 22, 2026	MINUTE ORDER made by direction of the Court, the Honorable Thomas S. Zilly, United States District Judge: (1) The Honorable Thomas S. Zilly hereby TRANSFERS the above captioned case as related to 2:25cv00814BJR and 2:25cv01435BJR to the Honorable Barbara J. Rothstein. All future pleadings shall bear the cause number 2:26cv01311BJR.(CJS) (Entered: 04/22/2026)	RECAP
6	April 23, 2026	STANDING ORDER FOR ALL CIVIL CASES by Judge Barbara J. Rothstein. The procedures in this Order supplement, and in some cases, supersede the local rules. The parties are responsible for being familiar with the procedures in this Order. Failure to comply with the procedures may result in sanctions. (NAW) (Entered: 04/23/2026)	RECAP
7	April 27, 2026	NOTICE of Appearance by attorney Julie K. Ainsworth-Taylor on behalf of Plaintiff City of Shoreline. (Ainsworth-Taylor, Julie) (Entered: 04/27/2026)	RECAP
8	April 30, 2026	AFFIDAVIT of Mailing of Summons and Complaint to Defendants on 4/20/2026, filed by Plaintiff City of Shoreline. (King, Margaret) (Entered: 04/30/2026)	RECAP
9	April 30, 2026	APPLICATION OF ATTORNEY Kunyu Ching FOR LEAVE TO APPEAR PRO HAC VICE for Plaintiff City of Shoreline (Fee Paid) Receipt No. AWAWDC-9653394 (King, Margaret) (Entered: 04/30/2026)	RECAP
10	April 30, 2026	APPLICATION OF ATTORNEY Gary DiBianco FOR LEAVE TO APPEAR PRO HAC VICE for Plaintiff City of Shoreline (Fee Paid) Receipt No. AWAWDC-9653435 (King, Margaret) (Entered: 04/30/2026)	RECAP
11	April 30, 2026	APPLICATION OF ATTORNEY Amy Powell FOR LEAVE TO APPEAR PRO HAC VICE for Plaintiff City of Shoreline (Fee Paid) Receipt No. AWAWDC-9653448 (King, Margaret) (Entered: 04/30/2026)	RECAP
12	April 30, 2026	ORDER re 9 10 11 Applications for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice. The Court ADMITS Attorneys Kunyu Ching, Gary DiBianco, Amy Powell for City of Shoreline, by Clerk Joshua C. Lewis. No document associated with this docket entry, text only.NOTE TO COUNSEL: Local counsel agrees to sign all filings and to be prepared to handle the matter, including the trial thereof, in the event the applicant is unable to be present on any date scheduled by the court, pursuant to LCR 83.1(d).(PS) (Entered: 04/30/2026)	RECAP
	April 30, 2026	Order on Application for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice
13	May 29, 2026	NOTICE of Appearance by attorney Sarah Louise Bishop on behalf of Defendants Sean Duffy, United States Department of Transportation. (Bishop, Sarah) (Entered: 05/29/2026)	RECAP
14	May 29, 2026	Stipulated MOTION TO CONSOLIDATE AND PROPOSED BRIEFING SCHEDULE, filed by Defendants Sean Duffy, United States Department of Transportation. (Bishop, Sarah) (Entered: 05/29/2026)	RECAP
15	June 2, 2026	ORDER granting the Parties' 14 Stipulated Motion TO CONSOLIDATE AND PROPOSED BRIEFING SCHEDULE. Signed by Judge Barbara J. Rothstein.(CJS) (Entered: 06/02/2026)	RECAP
16	June 2, 2026	MOTION for Preliminary Injunction filed by All Plaintiffs in 2:25-cv-01435-BJR, City of Seattle v. Trump et al.The Clerk placed on this docket pursuant to 15 ORDER re the Parties' 14 Stipulated Motion TO CONSOLIDATE AND PROPOSED BRIEFING SCHEDULE. The parties are directed to file the remaining briefs in both cases. (Attachments: # 1 Proposed Order)(CJS) (Entered: 06/02/2026)	RECAP
17	June 2, 2026	RESPONSE, by Defendants Sean Duffy, United States Department of Transportation to 16 MOTION for Preliminary Injunction.The Clerk placed on this docket pursuant to 15 ORDER re the Parties' 14 Stipulated Motion TO CONSOLIDATE AND PROPOSED BRIEFING SCHEDULE. The parties are directed to file the remaining briefs in both cases. (CJS) (Entered: 06/02/2026)	RECAP
	June 2, 2026	Set/Reset Motion and R&R Deadlines/Hearings
	June 2, 2026	Set Motion and R&R Deadlines re 16 MOTION for Preliminary Injunction: Plaintiff's consolidated Reply due by 6/5/2026. DOT Defendants' Surreply responding only to the City of Shoreline's additional arguments due by 6/12/2026. Set per 15 Order. (CJS)
18	June 8, 2026	MOTION for Preliminary Injunction, filed by Plaintiff City of Shoreline. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration of Tricia Juhnke and Exhibits 1-5, # 2 Proposed Order)(Ching, Kunyu) (Entered: 06/08/2026) 1 Declaration of Tricia Juhnke and Exhibits 1-5 View on PACER 2 Proposed Order View on PACER	RECAP
	June 10, 2026	Terminate Motions (Public)
19	June 12, 2026	Surreply	RECAP
20	June 29, 2026	ORDER GRANTING THE CITY OF SHORELINE'S MOTION FOR A PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION. Shoreline's Motion for a Preliminary Injunction (Shoreline Dkt. 18 ) is GRANTED. By the end of the third court day after issuance of this Order, Defendants shall file on this Court's electronic docket and serve upon Plaintiffs a Status Report documenting the actions they have taken to comply with this Order, including a copy of the notice and an explanation as to whom the notice was sent. This Order shall remain in effect pending further orders from this Court. Signed by Judge Barbara J. Rothstein. (APH)	RECAP
21	June 30, 2026	Joint Status Report Order Form for District Judges	RECAP
22	July 1, 2026	Stipulated Motion	RECAP
23	July 2, 2026	ORDER granting the Parties' 22 Stipulated MOTION FOR EXTENSION OF TIME. Signed by Judge Barbara J. Rothstein. (APH)	RECAP
24	July 8, 2026	Declaration (non motion)	RECAP

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Case Details

State / Territory:

Washington

Case Type(s):

Public Accommodations/ Contracting/ Organizational Discrimination

Special Collection(s):

Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government

Key Dates

Filing Date: April 16, 2026

Case Ongoing: Yes

Case Details

Other Dockets:

Western District of Washington 2:26-cv-01311

Available Documents:

Complaint (any)

Trial Court Docket

Recommended Citation

Case Summary of City of Shoreline v. United States Department of Transportation, Civil Rights Litig. Clearinghouse, https://clearinghouse.net/case/48340/.